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Tennis isn't just a sport — it can also be a vehicle to change lives and leave a lasting impact. Just ask Stacey Allaster. The chief executive of professional tennis at the USTA and U.S. Open tournament director is a lifer in the sport. Even though she didn't play it at the highest level, she's led it from those same heights, earning her this year's USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation's Tennis Creates Impact Award. Allaster will receive the award at the Tennis Creates Gala, Dec. 6 at the Salamander Washington D.C., the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation's signature fundraising event. On this edition of District of Sports, Allaster joins George Gerbo to discuss the honor, her lifetime experiences in tennis, including leading America's Grand Slam through a global pandemic and elevating it to heights, as well the surging state of the sport after the emergences of stars such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka.

The Washington Spirit secured the No. 2 seed in the National Women's Soccer League playoffs and are seeking a title after falling in the championship game last year, but face some questions after injuries and losing their final two matches of the regular season. On this edition of District of Sports, NWSL This Week podcast host Michael Minnich joins George Gerbo to breakdown the challenges facing the Spirit, including the health of U.S. Women's National Team star Trinity Rodman, as well as a look at the upheval among Audi Field's main tenant, D.C. United, which recently fired its general manager and is on its seventh different coach since 2022.

Just as men's tennis has been transitioning out of the "Big Three" era, a budding rivalry has begin to appear in its place that, in its infancy, has delivered much of the same thrill and fervor, as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have quickly infused their own dominance into the annals of the sport.  On this edition of District of Sports, George Gerbo talks with tennis writer Giri Nathan, author of the new book Changeover: A Young Rivalry and a New Era of Men's Tennis. Nathan discusses the onus for the book, the difference between this rivalry and the one between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, DMV native Frances Tiafoe's chances for a breakthrough in this new era, and more.

William Byron has taken the already-legendary No. 24 Chevrolet and has quickly authored his own NASCAR legacy behind its wheel. At just 27 years old, the Hendrick Motorsports driver has emerged as one of the sport's most competitive, notching four top five finishes in his last seven races and locking up his seventh-consecutive trip to the NASCAR playoffs after winning the season-opening Daytona 500 for the second-straight year. Byron recently stopped by D.C. and talked with District of Sports about his early season run of success that has him on top of the Cup Series standings as well as his relationship with Truck Series teammate and D.C. native Rajah Caruth.

When you think of golfing destinations across the U.S., it's likely Florida, Arizona, and other Sun Belt locales are the first to come to mind. But closer to home, Virginia is quickly becoming a must-see golf capital, especially after hosting the most recent Solheim Cup. On this episode of District of Sports, Rob McNamara, the Director of Golf at Keswick Hall in Charlottesville and a acclaimed golf professional in the region, joins the show to discuss the trends he's seeing in the world of golf and shares some unique insights and stories from his playing days and a life spent around the game. McNamara is followed by Louis Shapazian, the General Manager of Keswick Hall, to discuss additional attractions at the resort, including recent tennis, spa and dining upgrades.

The Maryland Terrapins wrap up a disappointing 2024 season at No. 4 and likely College Football Playoff bound Penn State. With the Terrapins missing a bowl game for the first time in four seasons, the matchup with the Nittany Lions is the closest they'll get to a postseason atmosphere. George Gerbo is joined by Joe Smeltzer of Nittany Sports Now to break down the matchup, the evolution of the Penn State offense under junior QB Drew Allar, and if Maryland was to pull the upset, how should they best attack the Nittany Lions?

The Washington Commanders are one of the hottest teams in the National Football League — really. No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels has Washington at 3-1 and atop the NFC East standings with an efficient, high-scoring start no one could have predicted. George Gerbo is joined by DC News Now sports anchor Alex Flum to break down the reasons behind the Commanders' surprising success and if they can sustain their momentum as the schedule gets tougher later in the season.

After her first-ever top-ten finishes at a major and the CP Women's Open title, Lauren Coughlin's career-year has set her up for a likely spot on the U.S. Solheim Cup team in her backyard next month. The Washington Times' George Gerbo sits down with Coughlin at Solheim Cup host Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, to discuss her recent hot streak, how she got into playing golf, and what welcoming the golf world to Northern Virginia will feel like for her.  

The Washington Spirit lead the NWSL in wins and are undefeated in their last five matches, including setting a club single-game attendance record. Michael Minnich of the Washington Spirit broadcast team joins the District of Sports podcast to discuss the scene at Audi Field after 19,897 saw the Spirit draw with the San Diego Wave after sensational rookie Croix Bethune's stoppage-time equalizer, the growth of professional women's soccer amid increased interest in women's sports, and what to expect from the U.S. Women's National Team at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.

The Solheim Cup, the most prestigious team competition in women's golf, is coming this year to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Northern Virginia, and even though it's still seven months away, Team USA Captain Stacy Lewis is hard at work. The Washington Times' George Gerbo sat down with Lewis on a recent visit to the club to find out what goes into her preparation, the unique nature of captaining the Americans in back-to-back years, and the insights she uses to help inform her captain's picks for the team.

After a 5-0 September, Maryland has dropped three-straight games. Now, here comes November, which starts with the Terps hosting No. 9 Penn State. The Washington Times' George Gerbo is joined by Joe Smeltzer of Nittany Sports Now to gauge the view of the matchup from Penn State's side, talk about the relationship between head coaches Mike Locksley and James Franklin, and keys for each team ahead of the game.

On this edition of District of Sports, The Washington Times' George Gerbo is joined by Jared Serre of Washington Hockey Now to discuss the expectations for the Capitals this season, the impact new coach Spencer Carbury will have, and whether Washington can balance an aging top line and inexperience on the bottom six while still contending for a playoff spot.

Maryland and Virginia — UVa. and UMd., the Terps and the Hoos —  meet Friday night for the 79th time and first in a decade. The schools met annually as members of the ACC from 1957 to 2013. before the Terps moved to the Big Ten. To discuss the rivalry being renewed and to get the perspective from the other side of the Potomac, George Gerbo talks to Greg Media, Virginia beat writer at The Daily Progress in Charlottesville. They discuss the importance of the game for both schools, a season unlike any other for the Cavaliers after the tragic shooting deaths of three players on a bus trip last year, and playmakers on both sides who are expected to shine under the primetime lights.

D.C.'s summer tennis tradition is back and bigger than ever, and we tackle it from multiple angles on this edition of District of Sports. Mubadala Citi DC Open Chairman Mark Ein joins me first to talk about how he's grown the event after taking it over in 2019 and what new for fans at the Fitzgerald Tennis Center. And for a look at what the players might experience, tournament physician Dr. George Branche, now in his 32nd year providing medical support to the open, provides insight on the training and conditioning that goes into preparing for playing tennis in D.C.'s notorious summer heat.

After missing the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, drastic change was needed for the Washington Wizards, and the dust is still settling from a flurry of moves, with potentially more on the horizon. The Washington Times' George Gerbo talks with DC News Now sports anchor and reporter Alex Flum to evaluate the Wizards as they stand now, project what else could happen before the season starts, and whether or not head coach Wes Unseld Jr. will be given the latitude to lead the team out of the doldrums.